Call of Duty

Call of Duty is Lynn Compton's memoir of his service as a paratrooper officer in Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment during World War II. The book covers his military training, combat experiences across Europe, and his post-war career in law enforcement and the legal system. The narrative follows Compton from his early days as a star athlete in Los Angeles through his decision to join the paratroopers and his experiences in the European theater. His firsthand account provides perspective on major WWII operations including D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge. Compton recounts his relationships with fellow soldiers and officers, revealing the strong bonds formed within Easy Company during training and combat. The book extends beyond the war years to chronicle his later career as a prosecutor and judge in California. The memoir explores themes of duty, leadership, and the lifelong impact of wartime service on those who served. Through his personal story, Compton illustrates how the values and skills learned in military service shaped an entire generation of Americans.

Readers rate "Call of Duty" 4.5/5 on Amazon (137 reviews) and 4.35/5 on Goodreads (392 reviews). Readers appreciate: - Inside perspective of Easy Company beyond HBO's Band of Brothers - Down-to-earth writing style that avoids self-promotion - Coverage of Compton's post-war legal career - Focus on leadership lessons and camaraderie - Historical photos and personal anecdotes Common criticisms: - Writing can feel disjointed or scattered - Less action-focused than other WWII memoirs - Some readers wanted more detail about specific battles - Brief coverage of Band of Brothers production Review quotes: "Offers a more personal view than Ambrose's book" - Amazon reviewer "Not as polished as other war memoirs but feels more authentic" - Goodreads reviewer "The legal career chapters add depth to understanding his character" - Goodreads reviewer Several readers noted the book complements rather than replaces other Easy Company accounts.

Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose A firsthand account of Easy Company's journey through WWII, featuring many of the same soldiers and missions depicted in Compton's memoir.

Beyond Band of Brothers by Dick Winters The memoirs of Easy Company's commander provides a leadership perspective of the same WWII campaigns that Compton experienced.

Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends by William Guarnere, Edward Heffron Two Easy Company veterans share their experiences of the same battles and locations that Compton writes about in his memoir.

With the Old Breed by E.B. Sledge A Marine's memoir of combat in the Pacific Theater presents the same level of personal detail and front-line perspective as Compton's European theater experiences.

Biggest Brother by Larry Alexander The biography of Dick Winters covers the same events as Compton's memoir from the perspective of Easy Company's leadership.

🎖️ Lynn "Buck" Compton earned a Purple Heart and Silver Star for his service as a 1st Lieutenant in Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment - the unit featured in "Band of Brothers" 📚 Before the war, Compton was a star baseball and football player at UCLA, where he played alongside Jackie Robinson ⚖️ After his military service, Compton became a prosecutor and later served as a California Court of Appeals judge, most notably working on the prosecution of Sirhan Sirhan for the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy 🪂 During Operation Market Garden, Compton was knocked unconscious when his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire, but he regained consciousness in time to make his jump into the Netherlands 🎬 In the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers," Compton was portrayed by actor Neal McDonough, and he served as a consultant during the production